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Analysis of single droplet dynamics on striped surface domains using a lattice Boltzmann method

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Abstract

In this paper, the behavior of a micron-scale fluid droplet on a heterogeneous surface is investigated using a two-phase lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The two-phase LBM permits the simulation of the time dependent three-dimensional motion of a liquid droplet on solid surface patterned with hydrophobic and hydrophilic strips. A nearest-neighbor molecular interaction force is used to model the adhesive forces between the fluid and solid walls. The solid heterogeneous wall is a uniform hydrophilic substrate painted with hydrophobic strips. The model is validated by demonstrating the consistency of the simulation results with an exact solution for capillary rise and through qualitative comparison of computed dynamic contact line behavior with experimentally measured surface properties and observed surface shapes of a droplet on a heterogeneous surface. The dependence of spreading behavior on wettability, the width of hydrophobic strip, initial location of the droplet relative to the strips, and gravity is investigated. A decrease in contact angle of the liquid on a hydrophilic surface may lead to breakup of the droplet for certain substrate patterns. The simulations suggest that the present lattice Boltzmann (LB) model can be used as a reliable way to study fluidic control on heterogeneous surfaces and other wetting related subjects.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through NASA grant NAG8-1727 and through the National Center for Space Exploration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Space Exploration Research, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Qingming Chang & J. I. D. Alexander

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  1. Qingming Chang
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  2. J. I. D. Alexander
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Correspondence to Qingming Chang.

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Chang, Q., Alexander, J.I.D. Analysis of single droplet dynamics on striped surface domains using a lattice Boltzmann method. Microfluid Nanofluid 2, 309–326 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-005-0075-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-005-0075-2

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